November 2000

Ken Watters/Harry Watters
Brothers II
Summit

By Miles Jordan

The Watters brothers, Ken on trumpet and flugelhorn, Harry on trombone, together produce a sound reminiscent of the two-trombone recordings by J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding in the '50s. Backed by pianist David Marlow, bassist Roy Yarbrough and drummer Jay Frederick (with guest guitarist Tom Wolfe on two tracks and John Miller subbing for Marlow on one), the brothers blast off on 11 tunes, six of them originals, which, except for Ken's "Vessel," lack punch. There's a certain amount of muscular playing by the horns but that ultimately palls. Much livelier are pianist Marlow's solos, which I find to be the disc's strongest points.